BI RESCUES SURROGATE MOTHER RECRUITED THROUGH DATING APP

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a female trafficking victim allegedly set to undergo an IVF procedure last January 14.

The 34-year-old woman, whose identity was withheld, attempted to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Cyprus.

She initially claimed to be a solo traveler on a leisure trip but was flagged after inadvertently presenting an IVF clinic invitation, which contradicted her story.

Investigation revealed that the victim agreed to be a surrogate for someone she met on a dating app, with a promised of ₱300,000 payout after childbirth.

“The scheme continues to thrive, leading to a rise in online offers for surrogacy or IVF-related services, with victims often coerced into passing certain laboratory assessments,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

“We warn females not to be tempted to agree to such schemes as this is a clear form of trafficking,” he added.

The victim was referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance.